Friday, April 4, 2008

Someone recently brought to my attention the story of James Spiers III. Spiers is a pizza delivery man here in Des Moines who, while making a delivery run last week, fought off a would-be robber by pulling his own handgun, only to lose his job for violating the pizza company's policy against drivers carrying firearms.

I've scribbled some thoughts on this over at Pajamas Media. Did the pizza company go too far? Head over to PJM and add your flame to the fire. The comment section is open!

[Update: 12:30 PM April 4]

95 comments so far over at PJM. Here is what I have learned so far:guns = safetykilling = courage

More to come, no doubt!

[Update: 9:00 PM April 4]

131 comments on Pajamas Media now, far too many to even begin attempting to answer.

I am closing the comment section for this post, but I invite you to continue the discussion over at PJM.

My thanks to those who have read and commented on today's article. Whether you agree or disagree with what I have written, I commend to you these words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who died 40 years ago today, himself the victim of gun violence:

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

4 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Dave,

“There must be better public safety options.” If you have any please state your solutions. There have been robbers and murderers since Abel and Cain. Since mankind existed there has been crime. There has not been any solutions that exist other than self defense. It is not a guarantee, but if gives a better chance of survival.

If you do not feel comfortable with having a pizza delivered to your door by a delivery person that is possibly armed, then do not order pizza to be delivered.

Personally, I think you are very selfish in order for you to feel comfortable that the poor delivery person is supposed to allow himself to be killed. The delivery person already loses his job since most pizza companies have that as reason for termination.

Delivery people go to poor areas that are high in crime for low wages and now you want them to die also, rather than defend themselves. You must be thankfull that you do not need to take such risks in order to provide a living.

Mr. Musgrove, with all due respect, I think you should check out the demographics of those that have obtained concealed carry permits and the requirements that need be met before the state issues one.

Just Google "Texas CHL" and go to the state's link and start there.

I have no doubt that you would feel more comfortable answering your door to receive your pizza delivery if you knew that the pizza company had done a thorough and full FBI background check (complete with fingerprints!) on the delivery guy and found no felonies ever, and probably not even any misdemeanors...or at least none in a very long while.

Well, when a pizza guy shows up at you door that possesses a CHL license then that is exactly what you have gotten.